Thanks to free shipping, limitless bargain hunting capacity, and a selection as wide as the internet itself, online shopping has become a serious force on the retail scene, and it's threatening to put traditional brick-and-mortar stores out of business. As a recent report in the Guardian UK tells it, "Four out of 10 shops will have to shut in the next five years as consumers turn their backs on traditional stores in favour of online shopping, according to a report which casts more doubt on the future of the beleaguered British high street. With retail experts increasingly painting a picture of a future high street lined with coffee shops and internet kiosks, a report from Deloitte highlights how the boundaries between physical and virtual space are becoming blurred with thousands of shops likely to face closure in coming years."

Reducing money spent on physical properties will help retailers cut down on needless expenses and instead invest in new technology to help bring their products to consumers in a faster, more efficient way. And while this report was conducted in the UK, it follows in the footsteps of a movement that's already gained traction here in the states: "The growing trend in the US for large warehouse-style retail outlets to have free in-store Wi-Fi to help customers shop online is expected to spread around the world." The author of the "Store of the Future" report this article is based on says, "Some 22% of people did not buy their last item of clothing or accessories in store, and only 9% of customers want to see the full product range in shops."

How much of your shopping do you do online? Do you prefer the traditional experience of seeing, touching, and trying on clothes, or would you not be disappointed if malls went the way of the milk man (ie, practically extinct!)? What do you think of this report? Were you surprised by it? Discuss!